Trashed: The Secret Life of Plastic Exports

An ABC News investigation involving hidden tracking devices follows three plastic bags dropped off at Walmart recycling bins in the U.S. all the way to controversial plastic facilities in Southeast Asia.
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[@melaniefoster1460]

We have to go back to glass, paper, and aluminum packaging. And stop with individually wrapped items. This is sickening and not a new problem.

[@SUGAR_XYLER]

I'd like to see milk go back to glass. That would increase sales

[@shipwreck8847]

I agree. Plastic is made to be thrown away. Where does it go does it disappear? No, it stays with you. And it wiill catch up with you someday.

[@jordanslingluff287]

Micro plastics have been found in ancient ruins and artifacts. Maybe you could keep up with the science.

[@headliner733]

Plastic causes cancer especially when it's being used for cooking. Glass is just fine when handled correctly and disposed of properly but we have so many irresponsible people here which is why we went to plastic. I want my paper bags back and my glass beverage containers so bad and my paper wrapped deli meats and fish!

[@henkmagnetic3103]

When we get upset about the plastic export/pollution problem or whatever, the first thing we need to look at, is our own moral compass, all countries lack of honesty for the sake of the well-healed/rich to continue living comfortably, detached from other people's reality. This programme is first for the US of A viewer, and we do know that all countries could be part of the solution. I do appreciate that here, the report focuses on the US of A contribution, not to exonerate others but best starts at home. When I watch on media about all the things the US of A does around the world which have questionable benefit for good, I do appreciate that you air in public, a lot of your dirty laundry. Money/profit is not wholly the problem, the mindset behind the obsession for wealth, at all costs is so detrimental.

[@Hello-its-Me-]

I'm glad Matt & ABC team is shining a light on this. Great investigating research on this topic that people tend to turn a blind eye to. If our oceans & marine life could speak. The thing it would tell us all. Plastic doesn't just disappear it goes somewhere. Just like trash & tires.

[@jtempleton1465]

Thank you for producing this video and exposing the corruption in this industry. 🙏👏

[@user-fp9ws4il8o]

Money laundering

[@cleopatrasnile]

The focal point at <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="1396">23:16</a> is the origin of plastics production, as highlighted. Nina Butler emphasizes in her interview that our fixation on recycling is excessive, whereas the real issue lies in overproduction. There should be a greater emphasis on urging industries involved in plastic manufacturing and companies utilizing plastics to invest in innovative technology and transition away from plastic usage.

[@chinookvalley]

I've offered to buy butcher paper for our local grocery store meat market to use instead of Styrofoam and plastic wrap. I've offered to buy or bring in paper feed bags to buy my dog food from our local feed store. I've offered to bring in my own glass containers to buy honey, herbs, juices, and other food and supplemental goods. NO ONE IS ALLOWED to let me use my own containers, as it is against corporate policy. I've been fighting this for 50 years, and it still continues. Petro wins again.

[@Heterogeneity]

Another wonderful way unregulated capitalism ruins everything.

[@mfwagged]

An enormous thank you for the brave and compassionate investigative journalist team members at ABC News who worked so hard and long to produce this. America is the world's largest oil and gas producer of which the global plastic packaging and production industry sources 90% or more of the raw materials from. We desperately demand change and reduction of this industry, upstream at the producer and manufacturer level. For decades, individual consumers have been blamed for the global and growing plastic waste deluge when in truth its the product and packaging manufacturers and oil and gas industry who need to be regulated, regularly monitored, and held accountable.

[@hsiao-meihuang4984]

Each business company should have good recycle policies to recycle their own products. The environment will become better recycle plastic, paper, and big functures.

[@rjazam6047]

That’s terrible! Girl! I’m so sorry that the US is one of the countries that dump and destroy your village. This is really horrible, I always recycle in NY, and feel so stupid now to believe that I was helping the environment by not throwing it in regular trash… This is really unfair and terrible that companies feel so entitled to just dump things to third-world countries … All countries are affected by this because this is our planet! Dumping on the other side of the world doesn’t solve anything!

[@Heterogeneity]

This is a good illustration of how unregulated Capitalism hurts everyone.

[@user-wf2ls3bj6v]

Not only is our garbage shipped around the world, it is often washed w/our precious water before being put in the recycle bin -before it is burned…😢😢😢

[@clee5006]

ABC, please publish the names of exporters who lie about the contents in shipping containers. It's a great investigation, but it falls short just there.

[@Heterogeneity]

Seriously. Publish that list and I'll call them myself.

[@ThraxMan84]

I don't recycle because I know more often than not, it doesn't go where it's supposed to go. I will say there is a lot of unnecessary packaging. Why does organic eggs need plastic cartons?

[@nimajnebrm]

Despicable.

[@CliftonBowers-pc2xu]

Sue dupont union carbide and Monsanto...

[@Heterogeneity]

Monsanto did it so wrong and got caught out so bad they had to change their name and sell themselves to a bigger corporation. 😂

[@juwanaziz922]

Thank you for letting people know the truth .

[@drivera5759]

Hi Matt, As part of your investigation you should verify if the same issue is happening with the plastic recover from the ocean by the nonprofit organization named The Ocean Cleanup. It would be absurd to spend millions cleaning up the massive plastic patch in the Pacific, only for the plastic to return or affect other water bodies. How costly would it end up being? How much would be spent on a bottle that would go through that entire process? 🧐

[@user-wf2ls3bj6v]

I was wondering the same thing?

[@apriljames726]

I saw a video a few years back that showed New York loading barges full of trash and dumping it all in the ocean, off there shores. I believe the Plastic Patch was created by New York. That aside Dupont and Other companies are responsible for this entirety of poisons on our planet. Monsanto/Bayer are companies that also pollute, all of our flora and fauna. Some how Large companies get away with murder...

[@Heterogeneity]

@theoceancleanup ? #theoceancleanup ?

[@YougoGlenCoco-]

Watching this documentary rn on tv. It’s so disheartening how our nation is not caring about the health & environmental outcomes of citizens here nor people abroad. I do appreciate the interviewer, he tries to hold some people accountable & he’s very quick witted when people are blowing smoke. Really well made doc.

[@user-fp9ws4il8o]

It goes way beyond that and it is staring people right in the face. When people see/hear things that they know is wrong they should have the GUTS to stand up and do something about it

[@YougoGlenCoco-]

@@user-fp9ws4il8o I concur with that. The documentary showed plenty of people that are doing just that thankfully. However, the big wigs in certain corporations & their lobbyists won't & even many of our US Senators. I have made adjustments in my life & have called my Senator's phone to vote no on certain policies but funny enough his phone is typically goes straight to voicemail (I also vote a particular way but this Senator is always elected regardless). Anywho keep up the good fight & passion. Docs like these are the reminders that people care & also try to make differences in what ways they can.

[@catsmeow4264]

Plastic makes great aggregate for concrete block. The bricks are very strong compared to bricks not using plastic. I see a lot of solutions to problems but the solutions aren't implemented! There is a sand and concrete shortage the solution will help! Slow to implement.

[@olivierb9716]

i work for a plastic company in europ. first, you have only reusible bags from supermarket, the most are in others materials than plastic. seconds, my factory use a lot of reusible plastic, the problem is, the reusible platic is often more expensive than virgin plastic, ironic. third, our reusible plastic is from others country, far , far away (asia, africa). and , don't forget, some plastic are not reusible at all, like ps for example.

[@olivierb9716]

and sorry for my english

[@dahliagarcia3749]

This is real THIS Is The Real Reporting I Know ABC Is Know For This Is The Kind Of Investigative Reporting 20/20 Was Well Known For

[@daezjn]

Companies should be taxed for using plastic packaging on their products. That tax should be used to handle the plastic waste crisis. Unfortunately it’s human nature … out of sight, out of mind … shame on businesses like Walmart and countries like the USA. Nothing more than contributors and opportunists to the problem 👎

[@davidtate166]

Why can't us deal with the waste. So incompetent.. us is .

[@user-kw5dx3bh6d]

That says it all!

[@Marie-rd1se]

Sadly, it’s more than incompetence. It’s also greed, and it’s also just plain uncaringness. The lack of compassion extends into every area of life - - and I say that as a person sleeping sitting up on the front seat of my car for more than four years, because nobody cares enough to say, “OK, I’ll rent you a room in my home so you can finish writing your book on healing greed” - which I cannot do when forced to sleep sitting up, which is causing brain damage and heart failure symptoms.

[@Marie-rd1se]

TY, @KeefeJeremy, I so appreciate you letting me know you love what I have to say. I just wish somebody who, like you, sees the importance of what I can get done if I only had an affordable smoke free place to rent, would contact me and offer a room in their home. I am dying here for lack of smoke-free and Wi-Fi-safe housing, and my knowledge and love with me.

[@CliftonBowers-pc2xu]

She'll be fired immediately I'm calling Bentonville immediately...my pleasure..

[@dank9288639]

was she fired?

[@sugarmagnolia1475]

No more plastic.

[@user-qr7ee2cp4y]

Use less plastic, it's not being recycled.

[@CliftonBowers-pc2xu]

Solution stop all plastic products

[@cjohnson784]

They have to get rid of one use plastic except for healthcare.

[@shesocute9613]

I didn’t know that I thought our plastic waste stayed in our city’s and neighbors I remember being in elementary school that the go to a waste area and get turned into other things or re made this is such a great video

[@infamoussnyc3761]

WAs all cap

[@Heterogeneity]

Plastic producers are good at propaganda

[@user-wf2ls3bj6v]

The stores in my area do not have paper OPTION anymore -ONLY EXTRA EXTRA T H I C K PLASTIC???????

[@kenfaganjr.7357]

People also ask Do plastic bags biodegrade?  It takes 1,000 years for a plastic bag to degrade in a landfill. Unfortunately, the bags don't break down completely but instead photo-degrade, becoming microplastics that absorb toxins and continue to pollute the environment.

[@viazel2796]

This is so heartbreaking 💔 😢 and sad to say 🇺🇸 is killing 🌎 💔. This will make its way back to 🇺🇸 🌎🌍🌏 through food systm 🍇🍈🍉🍊🍋🍌🍍🥭🥝🫐🍓🍒🍑🍐🍅🫒🥥🍋‍🟩🥑🍆🥔🥕🌽🌶🫑🥒🥬🥦🧄🧅🥚🍠🥜🫘🌰🫚🫛🍄‍🟫, wind 🌬🌫🌪🌩🌨🌧🌦🌥🌤🌤⛅️☄️🔥) and water 💧 (ocean 🐳🐋🦭🐟🐟🐠🐡🦈🐙🦀🦐🦑🦑🌊 ) ! Watch out for the Amazon Rain Forest...

[@serafinmagic1634]

I remember when glass was the only option for liquids. They were *all* returned to the store for deposit & recycle. (Brookdale soda was a favorite). Grocery bags were paper, food wrapped in wax paper or in jars. Drinks in cans. It worked B4 & it will work again.

[@chad9971]

We're not "All Complicit" to this. I don't manufacture plastic. I Don't ask Walmart to package oranges in plastic. I don't ask for plastic cups at fast food restaurants. And me not buying plastic won't eradicate the problem. Manufacturers and big corporations are to blame.

[@TFYFWYA]

exactly. but capital makes these kinds of "it's all YOUR fault" documentaries to push the guilt and blame off on people who have no power to stop it.

[@theWZZA]

What are you going to do about it? Just complain that it is someone else's fault?

[@chad9971]

@@theWZZA No, I'll vote on policies that affect the environment and share my opinion with my local officials...

[@theWZZA]

@@chad9971 sounds good, I will do the same.

[@ThePursuitWOD]

Not just asking for policies, but you can also ask the companies like Walmart or whatever fast food restaurants you go to, to get rid of those single use plastics, or at least allow an alternative for those who care and don’t mind paying a small bit extra.

[@judijonescampbell7767]

We sure do need to find a better way to live!

[@KDFantastic]

Canada ships their waste to the Philippines, too. It was covered up and buried as soon as the KZbin video came out from a concerned citizen. I saved that video, and it was taken down. Government corruption and big corporations are to blame.

[@Heterogeneity]

Unregulated Capitalism hurts everyone

[@catsmeow4264]

What up people? There will be a human population bottleneck. Then the Earth can heal itself. Humor time: will it be a glass bottle or plastic? Meow out!

[@CT-vm4gf]

I put my plastic waste in a trash bag in the normal bin that goes to our local landfill, no recycling. That way I know it’s not going overseas where it will end up in the ocean.

[@Bella_forever_]

Why not start trying to reuse plastic and tires by making homes, roads, cars, boats... what ever can using trash items ?

[@aghost1410]

Solutions: What you take from the earth, return to it in the creative method. Creative meathod: Take trash, convert to solid non-toxic material, bury the matter underneath new earth, create mountains that have higher surface areas. You can create mountains with it, and bury it, and put new earth over it so the Earth can transform it back. Imagine making higher surface area with building earth covered mounds of safely converted materials, and contain them in other minerals to keep it safe from polluting.

[@hsiao-meihuang4984]

Actually, Maylascia gov should promoter their plastica companies to improve pullution on environment.

[@oceanjournal3028]

Nice Job!

[@cjohnson784]

plastic is cheaper than glass I believe. These companies know what they are doing and they just don't care. If you want to get their attention then drop the CEO's off on one of those plastic islands in the pacific that have two feet of plastic on their beaches. and get this too folks... Who is trying to clean up this mess? It's not the countries producing it, it is non-profits. Shame on these countries producing it. and yes one of them is the United States.

[@theWZZA]

There are very simple things all of us can do, like bringing reusable bags to the supermarket. No one needs to be perfect to make a positive impact.

[@SUGAR_XYLER]

I do that, plus I go bagless

[@cm-ek4ci]

Reuse a paper bag or just say paper please

[@aw8079]

The corps who sell things wrapped in plastic are the real litterbugs. Coke should be held responsible for every plastic bottle.

[@davidtate166]

Getting paid off .its a it's a scam.lies.

[@lonnieperkins83]

😔

[@zmpuffnstuff]

We are the "Capital District". We need to realize this and change this!

[@frederickscheffler4621]

The ability to recycle plastics is not in the interests of the oil and gas industry. Plastics are the profit model for the future to replace revenues lost as fuel sales go down. Our group has patented a solution that will actually recover unstressed olefins for reuse. It is a non-thermal process that was developed to process all forms of carbon waste, from plastics to coal ash. Among the most salient products is hydrogen, which is produced by catalytic action. No energy is expended. For the last few years, we have tried unsuccessfully to use it in this country, but it creates a problem for a number of powerful vested interests. Coal ash is going to be used for concrete, and plastics are not being overseen by the EPA. At one time, this country took pride in being the nation of innovation. We are getting a far better welcome offshore in impacted countries than here in our own country, which is sadly the home to the world's ten largest polluters.

[@Heterogeneity]

Thank you for trying. I'm sorry your good idea is getting roadblocked so hard by unregulated Capitalism.

[@Atehubeh]

😢

[@paulmozel1033]

Excellent Piece!!! Great reporting.... It is a global problem but let's don't just sit around and wait for the next country to do something cuz we could be waiting awhile. Fix our end of the problem and hopefully others will join in the fight!!!!

[@heisenbergyo5578]

And these same people in USA complains about pollution from other countries ! The Irony !! I have in the west and the amount of individual waste these countries produce is appalling !

[@kirkslayden834]

She's the president of Walmart but she is lying through her teeth

[@Heterogeneity]

That's her job. It's what C suite executives are there for. Lying while looking and sounding good.

[@GaylaGriffiths-hi8zm]

Wear gloves and boots please

[@avagrego3195]

This would be super, love the idea.

[@headliner733]

First off, the US doesn't just send trash overseas ok. Those companies agree to take it from us at their expense because it's cheaper for us to dispose of it than it is for us to recycle it so we give it to them they pay for the transport and they are supposed to recycle it themselves since their economy market and labor market is cheaper than ours. Get it right!

[@Vacantly.]

Heyyyy so actually most governments that “accept” plastic waste being sent usually forget about it (Clearly) and don’t care enough about their citizens to do anything . ❤️ Both the government of USA and Any other who accept the plastic waste, it’s just a debate of who cares less 🔥

[@Heterogeneity]

Sooo, capitalism good?

[@headliner733]

@@Heterogeneity That is capitalism yes. Whether it's good or bad is subjective.

[@zanitalh7486]

😮😢😢😢😢😢

[@zanitalh7486]

What type of trackers are they? How do I get some of those trackers and test it out here? To find out where the plastic waste goes here? I am planning to follow the trucks when I can afford it, to see where the trucks go too? As don’t really know? It would be good to know? 😢

[@larryb.6023]

Melinda French Gates

[@gibbonholder3274]

RAS HOUSE MUSIC 🎶 LABORIE BEACH ⛱️ ST LUCIA JAZZ

[@kristyjean6219]

Calling out the US while also seeing trash from other countries there too. It’s not just us. I do agree something needs to change but it has to start at the top - with the big companies. And Malaysia needs to get strict on what they accept in. I hope she is working on her country’s complacency. It won’t get there if they don’t accept it. I know many Americans who use reusable bags and do everything possible to reduce plastic.

[@melaniefoster1460]

Just the wasted money for shipping literal trash doesn't even touch the climate issues.😢

[@StraightouttaBristol]

❤.......🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@beatriceowusuachaw6210]

😅GOD IS ALIVE

[@MrsMathews]

Malaysia is a sovereign nation and must resolve their own problems. This is not the fault of the US, or China. Take charge in your country and fix your corruption and poor handling of waste.

[@olivierb9716]

when i read a moron text, i can't stop laughing , or cry. i make the two when i read yours

[@voretex4202]

It is a funny truth is it not. Malaysia isn't forced to take waste they do so for profit

[@voretex4202]

​@@olivierb9716 didn't you connect those obvious dots before speaking nonsense???

[@larryb.6023]

Bill Gates

[@dannnsss8034]

Why are the other countries accepting our plastic then. Everyone wins.

[@antoniobabb1938]

I wouldn't say everyone try asking how the majority feels they didn't vote for this

[@infamoussnyc3761]

Cause theye poor

[@kb-warrior]

We do not ship our rubbish away in my country. We live amongst it. People just open their hands and it drops to the ground and gets blown around everywhere. We throw it out of cars while driving and don't give a damn. Not everyone though.

[@needinput9805]

Oh thought this was a story about California 😂

[@dahliagarcia3749]

Very Dumb comment

[@needinput9805]

@@dahliagarcia3749 Why’s that? California is a trash state 🤣

[@needinput9805]

Oh thought this was a story about California 😂

[@dahliagarcia3749]

Dumb comment

[@needinput9805]

Oh thought this was a story about California 😂

[@needinput9805]

Oh thought this was a story about California 😂

[@needinput9805]

Oh thought this was a story about California 😂

[@needinput9805]

Oh thought this was a story about California 😂

[@needinput9805]

Oh thought this was a story about California 😂

[@needinput9805]

Oh thought this was a story about California 😂